Western Canada - Any Vancouver bike shops/mechanics dealing with internal geared hubs?

Hi, I live in one of those ferry places so do not get into Vancouver too much anymore. I have been obsessed with getting my bike set up with an internal geared hub like a sram spectro 7, shimano nexus/alfine 8 speed etc but am having no luck so far. I wanted it ready months ago so I would have a super commuter ready for the rainy season. My local bike mechanic has a lifetime of experience but is not familiar with these hubs. His suppliers have weird sucky lack of stock. Are there any bike shops where one can buy or order these and have knowledgable staff know what to do with them? I just do not have time to go to every bike shop in town. I saw some wheels at Rain City Bikes with shimano nexus 8 speed hubs for sale but at the time I was waiting for a Sturmey Archer 8 speed hub that never came. I am getting really frustrated. The hubs cost at least 30% less in the US but with the canadian dollar tanking it would cost as much to just buy them here.
Also anyone have experience with an internal hub in Raincouver? Do they really have the range to get up hills? I keep asking and people swear they can get up big hills. I know the rider has the power and I've been riding an old raleigh with 4 working gears. I can get to work and back and only get off the bike a couple of times.
I have test ridden a bike with a nexus 8 speed hub and it was like butter!

Hey Heather.
I would guess Raincitybikes would be a good (and knowledgeable) bet:
http://www.raincitybikes.com/
Or Bikes on the Drive:
http://www.bikesonthedrive.com/
Or the Bike Doctor:
http://www.thebikedr.com/
I select these due to personal experience of knowledgeable Staff.
I know they all sell internally-geared Bikes. And (as stated) they all know their stuff.

Update BotD (Bikes on the Drive) would have to order; but they DO know there stuff. So going to them is not the "worst case scenario".

Thanks, I have not been to bikes on the drive but keep meaning to go next time I'm in town. And rain city is probably the best place for hubs.

I'm in Richmond and am thinking of placing a Nexus hub on my road bike.

I have a 4 speed Nexus on a cruiser and considering building or having someone build a wheel to fit on the road bike with it.

Maybe a Nexus 8 would be better, but it's got to cost lots more.

Let me know if you get set up with a re-build and let me know how it went.

I recently acquired a Crossroad8 with a Shimano Nexus 8 and have found the gear range more than adequate in dealing with the hills around town. Maintenance wise, well, I'll have to get back to you after I've put some real mileage on it.

B!

The range on an 8 speed nexus should be pretty adequate. The worst case is swapping to a smaller chainring and losing some top-end speed, but the range on a Nexus 8 should be wider than the standard 10-speed bikes of decades past, and you still see those kicking around.

So an 8 speed would give me a greater range of gears, but to buy one it's going to cost.

How much cheaper would it be to rebuild a wheel using my nexus 4 speed?

If I remember right, MSRP on a Nexus hub will be around $300, and something like $400 for an Alfine. I could be wrong, but I think I'm at least in the ballpark. Pricing could be different if a shop has them around or whatever, though. A wheelbuild around either of those hubs or your own 4 speed will depend on the shop and the rim you choose to go with.

I'm not sure if any of the big Canadian distributors are carrying pre-built wheels based on the Nexus hubs or not. I know there was a Shimano ad in the latest Momentum that noted that they were available in wheelsets, but I'm not sure off the top of my head if I've seen any actually available.

Thanks for the info, it's confirmed the little I've heard except, I didn't see the latest Momentum. I'll give it a look.

Thanks for the info, it's confirmed the little I've heard except, I didn't see the latest Momentum. I'll give it a look.

The ad is a two-page spread on the inside cover if I remember correctly. It just has a bit of a blurb about the Nexus 8 and the Alfine hubs, and then mentions them being available as hubs or in wheelsets. Last night after I wrote that reply, I popped onto the ordering sites for the distributors we use and a quick look didn't turn up any wheels built around Nexus hubs, but sometimes things aren't where one expects them to be on those sites. I'll take a look in the physical catalogs today if I have some dead time.

If I remember right, MSRP on a Nexus hub will be around $300, and something like $400 for an Alfine. I could be wrong, but I think I'm at least in the ballpark. Pricing could be different if a shop has them around or whatever, though. A wheelbuild around either of those hubs or your own 4 speed will depend on the shop and the rim you choose to go with...

just thinking about this a bit more, it's $300 for the hub, Maybe $60 for a rim, spokes used to be 50 cents each but I think they're twice that now, so maybe $40 spokes, maybe $40 to build it. I'm going to need a new chain ring, that'll be about $40, I'll probably need a new chain $20 and then the cost of the work to put in a new stopper for the cable to the hub.

Is that at the very least - $500 to change over?

Well, I got it done and it did cost me close to $500 but that included more work and parts (including a whole new crank) than I thought it would.

Rain City Bikes did it and did a great job.

I went with a Nexus 8 with a flat bar and Grip Shift on an old road frame.

I love it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3595/3665885392_e928c7e6dc_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/3665887350_4119e504fe_b.jpg

Well, I got it done and it did cost me close to $500 but that included more work and parts (including a whole new crank) than I thought it would.

Rain City Bikes did it and did a great job.

I went with a Nexus 8 with a flat bar and Grip Shift on an old road frame.

I love it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3595/3665885392_e928c7e6dc_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/3665887350_4119e504fe_b.jpg
BEAUTY!!!!!:thumb:

BEAUTY!!!!!:thumb:

I'm one happy camper! :D

I would like any info you glean on the performance/durability as time goes on...
I am considering a build that would incorporate the 8-Speed hub.

I'll keep you up to date. So far, it's great. No doubt the hub is heavy, but I've felt no difference in rolling resistance. Love the Grip Shift. Getting used to the difference in getting out of the saddle with a flat bar as opposed to a drop bar.

My first concern is servicing. Sheldon's site said Nexus hubs are quite well sealed, and should only require service at very rare intervals. I asked how often the shop services these hubs and they said they've never had these hubs come in for servicing. The shop said the best answer they have come across so far is to not worry about it until you notice that it needs it. Due to the nature of your axle being very strong compared to a quick release and also the hub itself is quite large resulting in less less rotation vibrations suggesting that the bearings will experience slightly less stress over other types of hubs.

I'll keep you up to date. So far, it's great. No doubt the hub is heavy, but I've felt no difference in rolling resistance. Love the Grip Shift. Getting used to the difference in getting out of the saddle with a flat bar as opposed to a drop bar.

My first concern is servicing. Sheldon's site said Nexus hubs are quite well sealed, and should only require service at very rare intervals. I asked how often the shop services these hubs and they said they've never had these hubs come in for servicing. The shop said the best answer they have come across so far is to not worry about it until you notice that it needs it. Due to the nature of your axle being very strong compared to a quick release and also the hub itself is quite large resulting in less less rotation vibrations suggesting that the bearings will experience slightly less stress over other types of hubs.
Good info here.:thumb: